The Good News of Jesus Christ

Introduction

Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 15:1–11 ESV

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Paul, after beating them up, want to encourage them with the Good News of Christ

Leaders, Church discipline, law suits, marriage, pride, etc

Easter Service

Too Good to pass up!

Focus last time on the it being news that you can trust

We can trust in the Gospel because of the testimony of of the Church

We can trust in the Gospel because of the testimony of Scripture

Foretold

History

We can trust in the Gospel because of the testimony of credible eyewitnesses

We can trust in the Gospel because it changes lives

We can trust in the Gospel because it has always been a consistent message

What is this message?

Jesus died for our sins

All have sinned and are in need of being rescued or “saved” from it and its effects

Most think or say to themselves, “I’m not that bad”

Way of the Master Illustrations

Penalty - spiritual death, hell

2 Thessalonians 1:7–9 ESV

and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

The way is narrow

Matthew 7:13 ESV

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

Power of sin

Romans 6:12–13 ESV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Presence of sin

Galatians 1:3–5 ESV

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus as the Son of God lived a perfect, sinless life

Jesus was buried

He took our sins to the grave

He paid the debt for sin that we owed

He died as a substitute for us

Jesus rose on the third day

He appeared to Cephas (Peter)

He appeared to the disciples

He appeared to over 500 people at one time

He appeared to James (Jesus brother) and all the apostles

He appeared to Paul

Victorious over sin and death!

His sacrifice was acceptable to God.

Response - How will you respond to God’s grace?

Jesus Commands us to believe and repent.

Jesus is coming again

No decision

Believe in vain (vs 2)

Paul’’s response

Saved by Grace not works

God’s grace was not in vain

Works harder than any